Warfare in the Ancient Near East to 1600 BC

The only book available that covers this subject, Warfare in the Ancient Near Eastis a groundbreaking and fascinating study of ancient near Eastern military history from the Neolithic era to the middle Bronze Ages.Drawing on an extensive range of textual, artistic and archaeological data, William J. Hamblin synthesizes current knowledge and offers a detailed analysis of the military technology, ideology and practices of Near Eastern warfare.Paying particular attention to the earliest known examples of holy war ideaology in Mesopotamia and Egypt, Hamblin focuses on:* recruitment and training of the infantr* the logistics and weaponry of warfar* the shift from stone to metal weapon* the role played by magi* narratives of combat and artistic representations of battl* the origins and development of the chariot as military transportatio* fortifications and siegecraf*developments in naval warfare.Beautifully illustrated, including maps of the region, this book is essential for experts and non-specialists alike.